I remember being upset because I was finally legal to drink in Canada, and I decided to throw that all away and move to America, where I had to wait another two years. I came here to do improv and to try to join the Groundlings.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
I may have made a mistake in renouncing my Canadian citizenship, which I have never ceased to promise to try to regain.
Another turn in my life happened when I took on the Canada Council.
My parents were young and liberal and knew I was going to drink anyway, so they let me do it at home.
I came to America from Canada because Canada is stultifyingly boring and incredibly hypocritical.
They decided to let immigrants in and I am an immigrant. They gave us a chance to participate in this country's life and I took it.
I had the taste of the alcohol since I was 11. It allowed me to be clever, charming and to behave outrageously. Acting also allowed me not to be me. So I could indulge every fantasy in this paradise of America.
I had never, ever drunk beer in high school, and by the time I got to Tech we were having these parties out in the cotton fields and getting so drunk. I was the champion beer drinker; suddenly I was pouring it down my throat... Insane! Insane!
I wanted to make Canadian films, and I ended up making American films.
I toured Ontario in the winter of '48, in a touring company of The Drunkard, in which I played the bartender.
The opportunity to go up to Canada and play was just a blessing for me and my family.